Blaze battled for five hours ... vacant house hit by arson

Friday

Nov 15, 2013 at 7:44 AM

UHRICHSVILLE Firefighters worked for nearly five hours Thursday to extinguish a blaze that heavily damaged a vacant two-story wood-frame house at 710 W. First St., and also damaged the exteriors of two neighboring houses.

BY AMY WRIGHTTimes-Reporter correspondent

UHRICHSVILLE Firefighters worked for nearly five hours Thursday to extinguish a blaze that heavily damaged a vacant two-story wood-frame house at 710 W. First St., and also damaged the exteriors of two neighboring houses.

The State Fire Marshal and the Uhrichsville Fire Department have determined that the cause of the fire was arson.

The house is owned by Harry Estes of Port Washington.

Fire Capt. Rick Kinsey said that firefighters were called to the scene at about 1:29 a.m. after a neighbor was awakened by a popping sound that turned out to be coming from nearby power lines. Upon checking, the neighbor saw the house on fire.

Kinsey said that upon arrival, firefighters also observed the exterior of the Michael Chesser residence at 706 W. First St. had some areas that were burning and had to be extinguished.

Kinsey added that the Donald Jackson residence at 714 W. First St., also sustained melted siding due to heat from the fire.

Firefighters from Dennison and Tuscarawas-Warwick assisted at the scene, and Uhrichsville police temporarily evacuated the two neighboring residences.

Damage to the vacant residence has been estimated at $40,000.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact the Uhrichsville Fire Department at 740-922-1212. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee for any information leading to the identification of the person responsible for the fire.

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